Sliding laminated glazing unit with interior projection

ABSTRACT

An automotive glazing unit includes a glazing and a system for allowing the glazing to be moved translationally with respect to a door of the vehicle. The glazing is curved and laminated and includes an exterior and an interior glass sheet and a plastic sheet between the exterior and interior glass sheets, each sheet having a peripheral edge face. The edge face of the interior glass sheet is located beyond the edge face of the plastic sheet and beyond the edge face of the exterior glass sheet over a portion of the length of the edge face of the interior glass sheet. The edge face of the interior glass sheet includes a protective layer on a portion of the length of that edge face of the interior glass sheet which is located beyond the edge face of the plastic sheet and beyond the edge face of the exterior glass sheet.

The present invention relates to an automotive glazing unit, inparticular for a motor vehicle, including a glazing and means forallowing said glazing to be moved translationally with respect to a doorof said vehicle, said glazing being curved and laminated and comprisingat least an exterior glass sheet, an interior glass sheet and a plasticsheet located between said exterior glass sheet and said interior glasssheet, each sheet having a peripheral edge face.

A window with a laminated glazing the interior glass sheet of which hasan interior projection with respect to the rest of the laminated glazingis for example known from French patent application No. FR 2 525 677.This projection serves as a protruding, guiding means that is intendedto slide in a recessed profile of the door during the translationalmovement of the glazing unit, such that the exterior face of the glazingunit is flush with the structure of the door when the glazing unit isclosed.

It would appear that this window has never been implementedindustrially.

One plausible explanation is that the window according to this documentcauses more problems than it solves: for a given opening, which must beclosed by a sliding laminated glazing unit, providing a projection forthis laminated glazing unit causes more problems than providing, for thesame opening, a laminated glazing unit of the same total thickness andwith no projection.

Specifically, with respect to a laminated glazing unit with noprojection, when it is desired for the laminated glazing unit to have aprojection, it is necessary to make provision, for a given opening:

-   -   both for the exterior glass sheet to be smaller than the glazing        unit with no projection;    -   and for the interior glass sheet to be larger than in the        laminated glazing unit with no projection.

It is necessary to perform these two operations as otherwise theprojection-comprising laminated glazing unit may not be correctly heldin an opening of given nominal dimensions:

-   -   if it is chosen to make provision solely for the exterior glass        sheet to be smaller than the laminated glazing unit with no        projection, then it is necessary to decrease the dimensions of        the opening; and    -   if it is chosen to make provision solely for the interior glass        sheet to be larger than the laminated glazing unit with no        projection, then it is necessary to increase the dimensions of        the opening;

each of these two operations is to be avoided because each would requirethe overall appearance of the vehicle to be modified.

The two operations above, which are essential if the size of the openingis not be changed, are not carried out to equal effect; in order for thelaminated glazing unit to be correctly held in the opening withoutmodification of the dimensions of this opening, or modification of thethicknesses of the constituent components of the laminated glazing, thenit is necessary:

-   -   for the exterior glass sheet to be only a little bit smaller        than the laminated glazing unit with no projection (with for        example an area decreased by 2%); and    -   for the interior glass sheet to be definitely larger than in the        laminated glazing unit with no projection (with, in this        example, an area increased by 5%).

Therefore, the decrease in the size of the exterior glass sheet is notcompensated for by the increase in the size of the interior glass sheet:as the size of the interior glass sheet is increased more, inproportion, than the size of the exterior glass sheet is decreased, inthe end, more glass is needed and the weight of theprojection-comprising laminated glazing unit is increased.

This increase in the weight of the glazing unit is disadvantageousbecause it leads to an increase in the consumption of the vehicle andbecause it is then necessary to design stronger means for moving theglazing unit translationally.

It is moreover known to produce a window with a laminated glazing withmeans for allowing said glazing to be moved translationally with respectto a vehicle door that has no top jamb, or is missing one lateral jamb,or that even has no lateral jambs.

In these windows, in closed position, the glazing unit is hardly, oreven not at all, held at the top and laterally by the door, but is heldin this position by means located directly on the body, in the bodyportion adjacent to the door when the door is closed (portion called the“body opening”).

In this regard, prior art is known from European patent No. EP 1 178175, which relates to a system for positioning and for assembly with avery complex glazing including:

-   -   an adapter element having a first extension lying in the        extension of the glazing and a second extension extending in the        longitudinal direction of the glazing unit;    -   a carriage element guided in at least one rail that is securely        fastened to a door of the vehicle and driven by a driving device        housed in said door; said carriage being equipped with a third        extension in the longitudinal direction of the glazing, with at        least one guiding block that is securely fastened to an element        of the driving device and guided along a rail, and with a        vertical wall having a first vertical contact surface liable to        interact with one of the faces of the first extension of the        adapter element the second extension of which interacts with the        third extension of the carriage so as to allow a small relative        movement between the adapter and the carriage under the action        of a longitudinal force applied to the glazing unit before it is        fastened in place;    -   a trapping element comprising a contact surface; and    -   a fastening means that interacts with the trapping element so as        to block the first extension of the adapter between said first        and second contact surfaces.

Thus, during the installation of the glazing unit in the door, theglazing unit can be adjusted in the vertical direction of the vehicle bymoving the adapter between the carriage and the trapping element and inthe longitudinal direction by virtue of the action of the thirdextension of the carriage on the second extension of the adapter.

This solution is tedious to implement and leads to too great a loss oftime for motor-vehicle manufacturers, who would like their automobilesto be assembled as quickly as possible.

Various solutions for glazing/glazing holder and glazing holder/drivingmechanism assembly are moreover known from international patentapplication No. WO 01/98613.

This document in particular discloses that, once the glazing holder hasbeen securely fastened to the glazing, it is possible for the geometryof the glazing holder to be adjusted by removing material, in order tomodify the relative position of the glazing-door with respect to thedriving mechanism (movable carriage).

This document also discloses that using a glazing holder that admits ofa small amount of play in the direction normal to the glazing unitallows differences in glazing-unit shape to be compensated for via amodification of the position of the glazing holder with respect to theglazing. The glazing holder is fastened to the glazing, using twoadhesives, a slow-setting adhesive and a fast-setting adhesive, afterrelative movement of one with respect to the other to a suitableposition.

The aim of the invention is to provide a translationally movable glazingstructure that is not only light but also robust, effective, easy tomanufacture and easy to implement.

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that it is possible to use alaminated glazing with, in order to decrease the weight of the glazingunit, a thin interior glazing, to carry out, preferably before thelamination, a thermal temper or a thermal anneal or a chemical temper ofthis interior sheet in order to increase its mechanical strength, and tofurthermore provide at least one interior projection with a protectionfor this thin interior glass sheet in order to further decrease theweight of the glazing and also allow a glazing unit that remains flushwith the door, or even with the adjacent body (case for a door with nojamb(s)), to be produced.

The present invention thus relates, in its broadest possible acceptance,to an automotive glazing unit according to claim 1, the dependent claimsdisclosing advantageous variants. This glazing unit includes a glazingand means for allowing said glazing to be moved translationally withrespect to a door of said vehicle that has no jamb(s) in an upperportion, said glazing being curved and laminated and comprising at leastan exterior glass sheet, an interior glass sheet, and a plastic sheetlocated between said exterior glass sheet and said interior glass sheet,each sheet having a peripheral edge face, this glazing unit beingnoteworthy in that the edge face of said interior glass sheet is locatedbeyond the edge face of said plastic sheet and beyond the edge face ofsaid exterior glass sheet over at least one portion (i.e. over at leastone portion/on at least one edge, or over a plurality of portions/on aplurality of edges or on the entirety/periphery) of the length of theedge face of said interior glass sheet and in that the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet further includes a protective layer on at least oneportion of the length of that edge face of said interior glass sheetwhich lies beyond the edge face of said plastic sheet and beyond theedge face of said exterior glass sheet and preferably the edge face ofsaid interior glass sheet includes a protective layer over the entiretyof the length of that edge face of said interior glass sheet which islocated beyond the edge face of said plastic sheet and beyond the edgeface of said exterior glass sheet. Thus, the protective layer bothprotects the interior glass sheet located below and provides protectionduring handling in order to decrease the sharp character of the thininterior glass sheet.

Said interior glass sheet preferably has a thickness comprised between0.40 and 2.10 mm, or even between 0.40 and 2.00 mm, or even between 0.40and 1.80 mm, or even between 0.40 and 1.60 mm; it may in particular be:

-   -   a sheet of glass having undergone a chemical tempering        operation, or    -   a sheet of glass having undergone a thermal strengthening        operation via thermal annealing/toughening or via thermal        tempering, or    -   a sheet of glass having not undergone either a chemical        tempering operation or a thermal strengthening operation.

The glazing is a laminated glazing in the sense that there is nogas-filled cavity or vacuum cavity between the sheets that form theglazing.

The interior glass sheet has a thickness that is no larger than that ofthe exterior glass sheet; it is at most equal to, and preferably smallerthan, that of the exterior glass sheet.

Said protective layer is a partial layer in the sense that it is notpresent on the entirety of the exterior face or of the interior face ofthe interior glass sheet that bears it; when it is present on a portionof an exterior and/or interior face of the interior glass sheet, theprotective layer is present on only a very small portion of this face(less than 1/10^(th) of the area of this face), in order not todisadvantageously decrease the vision area of the glazing.

Said interior glass sheet may have a thickness comprised between 0.40and 1.10 mm, or even between 0.40 and 0.70 mm. Its thickness must besufficient to have a positive effect on the mechanical strength and therigidity of the glazing but must not be too large in order not to toogreatly increase the weight of the glazing. Said interior glass sheetmay for example have a thickness of 0.40 mm, or 0.55 mm, or 0.70 mm, or1.10 mm, or 1.60 mm.

In the present document, regarding the mentioned ranges, the limits ofthe ranges are included in the ranges.

The expression “edge face” or “end face” designates the narrow side of asheet, which is located substantially transversely between the two mainfaces of a sheet.

The fact that the edge face of said interior glass sheet is locatedbeyond both the edge face of the plastic sheet and the edge face of saidexterior glass sheet along at least one portion of its length makes itpossible to make said interior glass sheet project with respect to saidplastic sheet and said exterior glass sheet. This projection may beperipheral in the sense that it is present on all of the periphery ofthe glazing, but it may also be partial and thus be present only alongone portion of the periphery of the glazing; it may also be presentalong a plurality of portions of the periphery of the glazing; it may inparticular not be present along the bottom edge of the glazing.

This projection is provided in a visible portion of the glazing unit; ina portion that may be seen by the users of the vehicle. This projectionmay not be present in a portion of the glazing unit that remains hiddenin the interior of the body of the vehicle, whatever the state (open,closed, or between open and closed) of the glazing with respect to thebody element that bears it.

The present invention is thus based on the surprising discovery that ina movable laminated glazing unit, the thin and chemically temperedinterior glass sheet can be present alone in a location of the thicknessof the glazing (in the location of the projection: with no plasticinterlayer sheet, or exterior glass sheet) and thus can optionally be,in this location, the only part of the glazing unit that interacts witha jamb of the body (main portion or jamb).

In one particular application of the invention, the door of said vehiclehas no jamb(s), at least in an upper portion.

The edge face of said interior glass sheet preferably includes aprotective layer that extends over a distance against an exterior faceof said interior glass sheet and/or against an interior face of saidinterior glass sheet, said distance being comprised between 2.0 and 30.0mm, or even between 3.0 and 20.0 mm and furthermore preferably remainingconstant on the exterior face of said interior glass sheet and/orconstant on the interior face of said interior glass sheet, forproviding a more effective protection.

The edge face of said interior glass sheet may include a protectivelayer that extends over a distance against an interior face of saidinterior glass sheet that is larger than a projection distance of theedge face of said interior glass sheet with respect to the edge face ofsaid plastic sheet and to the edge face of said exterior glass sheet inorder to provide more effective protection; this distance may becomprised between 3.0 and 40.0 mm, or even between 4.0 and 30.0 mm, inparticular when said distance over which the protective layer extends iscomprised between 2.0 and 30.0 mm, or even between 3.0 and 20.0 mm,respectively.

This protective layer may in particular make contact with the edge faceof said plastic sheet, or even also with the edge face of said interiorglass sheet in order to provide even more effective protection.

Said protective layer may be a varnish having a thickness of about 0.1to 3.0 mm, which is easy to apply, or may be a part made of plastic orof metal or of metal alloy. This part may be manufactured beforehandthen wedged onto or adhesively bonded to the exterior glass sheet aftermanufacture of the glazing (after the lamination); when it is made ofplastic, it may be manufactured in situ, for example by in situextrusion or in situ encapsulation. Such a part makes the glazing unitmore complex but may allow more effective protection to be achieved.

Preferably, the edge face of said interior glass sheet lies beyond theedge face of said plastic sheet and beyond the edge face of saidexterior glass sheet at least in the top portion of said glazing unit.

In one advantageous and independent variant, the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet lies beyond the edge face of said plastic sheet andbeyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet over only one portionof the length of the edge face of said interior glass sheet. The edgeface of said interior glass sheet may lie beyond the edge face of saidplastic sheet and beyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet overa plurality of portions of the length of the edge face of said interiorglass sheet but, in this independent variant, the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet does not lie beyond the edge face of said plasticsheet and beyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet over theentirety of the length of the edge face of said interior glass sheet.

Thus, the glazing is easier to manufacture because the one (or more)portion(s) of the edge face of said interior glass sheet that does(do)not lie beyond the edge face of said plastic sheet and beyond the edgeface of said exterior glass sheet may be such that the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet is then aligned with the edge face of said plasticsheet and with the edge face of said exterior glass sheet; this (these)portion(s) may then serve as reference portion(s) for the positioning ofthe interior glass sheet with respect to the two other sheets during themanufacture of the glazing (lamination).

Furthermore, this (or these) one (or more) portion(s) may be locatedfacing means allowing said glazing to be moved translationally withrespect to the door of said vehicle (i.e. the one or more glazingholders) in order to increase the mechanical strength of the glazing inthis (or these) location(s).

In one specific variant, the edge face of said interior glass sheet isaligned with the edge face of said exterior glass in a bottom portion ofthe glazing unit; for example, in a bottom portion that remains in theinterior of said door when said glazing unit is closed.

In particular, the edge face of said interior glass sheet may be alignedwith the edge face of said exterior glass sheet along the bottomglazing-unit edge.

The edge face of said interior glass sheet lies beyond the edge face ofsaid exterior glass sheet so that a centripetal offset of sizecomprised, preferably, between 2.0 and 30.0 mm, or even between 3.0 and20.0 mm, is formed said offset furthermore preferably being constantalong its length, in order to be more discreet, aesthetically.

In one particular variant, the edge face of said interior glass sheetlies beyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet so that acentripetal offset is formed along both the entirety of a top portionand along one portion only of a single lateral edge, or indeed so that acentripetal offset is formed along both the entirety of a top portionand along one portion only of two lateral edges of said glazing unit.

Advantageously, the present invention allows sliding glazing unitsequipped with glazing holders to be manufactured that are not only verystrong by virtue of the laminated structure of the glazing, the interiorsheet of which is protected by the protective layer, but that arefurthermore easy to guide translationally by virtue of the centripetalprojection of the interior sheet with respect to the rest of thelaminated glazing and that may possibly be lighter.

The present invention was developed for glazing units incorporated intodoors having lateral jambs and an upper jamb level with the glazing unitwhen the latter is wound up (closed), but it may also be used forglazing units incorporated into doors having no lateral and upper jambslevel with the glazing unit when the latter is wound up.

Advantageously above all, the present invention makes it possible toproduce a glazing unit that, when it is closed, includes an exteriorface that lies flush with the peripherally adjacent body portion(portion of the door, or portion of the body directly if the door has nojambs peripherally to the glazing unit); this type of glazing unit isknown as “flush glazing”.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the detaileddescription below of nonlimiting embodiments and the appended figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior face-on view of a front automotiveglazing unit according to the invention, equipped with two glazingholders;

FIG. 2 illustrates a vertical transverse cross-sectional view of aglazing holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a profile view of a front automotive glazing unitequipped with two glazing holders according to the invention during theoperation of installation of a glazing holder;

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial vertical transverse cross-sectional view ofthe glazing unit of FIG. 1 between the two glazing holders and withoutthese glazing holders, this glazing unit comprising a projection in thetop portion thereof but no projection in the bottom portion thereof; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial vertical transverse cross-sectional view ofa variant of FIG. 4; the glazing unit including a projection in the topportion thereof and also in the bottom thereof.

It will be noted that the various elements shown in the figures have notbeen drawn to scale for the sake of readability.

FIG. 1 illustrates a right-hand side glazing unit 1 of a vehicle,according to the invention, drawn as seen from the exterior of thevehicle.

It is in particular a side glazing unit of a door of a motor vehiclethat is translationally movable with respect to this door substantiallyvertically between an open position in which the glazing unit is locatedentirely or almost entirely in the interior of the door and a closedposition in which the glazing unit closes an opening of the door.

Thus, when closed, this glazing unit forms a vertical separation betweenan interior space I that is in the interior of the vehicle and anexterior space E that is on the exterior of the vehicle.

The notions “exterior” and “interior” are therefore considered in thepresent document with respect to this exterior space E and this interiorspace I, respectively.

As it is a question of a side glazing unit, the latter for the most partextends along the axis generally called the “X-axis” of the vehicle,which is the central longitudinal axis of advance of the vehicleequipped with the glazing unit according to the invention as a sideglazing unit on the right-hand side of the vehicle and which correspondsto the horizontal axis in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1.

In the context of the present document, the notions “centripetal” and“centrifugal” are considered, in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1, to beexpressed with respect to the center of the glazing unit, along the Xand Z axes; the centrifugal direction points in the direction of thiscenter whereas the centripetal direction is away from this center.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the glazing unit 1 is unitarily formed.

In the example embodiment illustrated, the glazing unit 1 includes aglazing 2 that is curved (i.e. not flat) and laminated. However, forgreater simplicity, in the drawings of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 the glazing 2 isconsidered to be flat.

The glazing 2 of the glazing unit 1 is a laminated glazing thatincludes, from the exterior to the interior, at least, in this order: anexterior glass sheet 3, a plastic interlayer sheet 4 then an interiorglass sheet 5; however, it is possible for at least one other sheet tobe inserted between the exterior glass sheet 3 and the plasticinterlayer sheet 4 or between the plastic interlayer sheet 4 and theinterior glass sheet 5.

The exterior glass sheet 3 has an exterior face 30 that is orientedtoward the exterior E, an interlayer face 32 that is oriented toward theplastic interlayer sheet 4, and a peripheral edge face 31 that islocated between these two faces.

The interior glass sheet 5 has an interlayer face 50 that is orientedtoward the plastic interlayer sheet 4, an interior face 52 that isoriented toward the interior I and a peripheral edge face 51 locatedbetween these two faces.

The plastic interlayer sheet 4 has an exterior interlayer face 40 thatis oriented toward the interlayer face 32 and that here makes contactwith this interlayer face 32, an interior interlayer face 42 that isoriented toward the interlayer face 50 and that here makes contact withthis interlayer face 50, and a peripheral edge face 41 that is locatedbetween these two interlayer faces 40, 42.

The exterior glass sheet 3 is for example a glass sheet having undergonea thermal bending operation before the manufacture of the laminatedglazing 2 and having a thickness e₃ comprised between 1.20 and 4.50 mmand for example of 2.10 mm.

The plastic interlayer sheet 4 is for example a sheet made of polyvinylbutyral (PVB) having a thickness e₄ comprised between 0.50 and 1.50 mmand for example of 0.78 mm. This plastic sheet 4 preferably has the samelength dimension along the X-axis and height dimension along the Z-axisas the exterior glass 3.

The interior glass sheet 5 is a glass sheet having undergone

thermal bending and thermal tempering and having a thickness e₅comprised between 0.40 and 2.10 mm, or even between 0.40 and 2.00 mm, oreven between 0.40 and 1.80 mm, or even between 0.40 and 1.60 mm, and forexample of 1.60 mm.

a chemical tempering operation and having a thickness e₅ comprisedbetween 0.40 and 2.10 mm, or even between 0.40 and 2.00 mm, or evenbetween 0.40 and 1.80 mm, or even between 0.40 and 1.60 mm and forexample of 1.00 mm; in this case, preferably, the interior glass sheet 5is not curved before the manufacture of the laminated glazing 2; it isthis lamination that will give it its curved shape, by making it conformto the shape of the exterior glass sheet 3. This is made possible byvirtue of the small thickness of the interior glass sheet.

In the case where the glazing 2 includes one or more other sheets inaddition to the aforementioned three, the interior glass sheet 5 is thesheet of the laminated glazing that is interiormost.

The glazing unit 1 includes, apart from the glazing 2, along at leastone portion of at least one bottom edge, means for allowing the glazing2 to be move translationally with respect to a door of the vehicle.These means comprise at least one and preferably at least two glazingholders 6, 6′ for example having, in transverse cross section, asubstantially upside-down h shape.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the glazing holder 6 of FIG. 1.This glazing holder 6 thus has:

-   -   a first portion consisting of two parallel walls 63, 64 that are        connected at their base and forming a longitudinal groove, i.e.        forming a U shape in transverse cross section; and    -   a second portion consisting of a tail 65 extending away from the        parallel walls 63, 64 with respect to the base connecting these        walls.

In the illustrated version, assembly is carried out so that saidparallel walls 63, 64 of said h shape clasp the lower portion of saidglazing 2, the tail 65 then being located substantially in the extensionof the glazing 2.

This h shape of the glazing holder is particularly advantageous becauseit allows forces to be transmitted between the glazing holder and theglazing over a large area corresponding to the sum of the interior areasof the parallel walls 63, 64; however, it is entirely possible to use asingle platen, this platen for example having at least two portions: afirst portion for interacting with the glazing and a second portion forinteracting with the mechanism for driving (raising/lowering) theglazing.

In FIG. 2, the glazing 2 is curved and the parallel walls 63, 64 and thetail 65 are planar; however, it is possible for the parallel walls 63,64 and/or the tail 65 to be curved. The tail 65 extends approximatelyfrom the midpoint of the base connecting the parallel walls 63, 64, butit is also possible to position the tail 65 in the extension of eitherone of the parallel walls 63, 64.

In FIG. 2, the tail 65 is not parallel to the walls 63, 64. The axis Aillustrates the midplane of the glazing unit 1 at its lower end when thelatter is correctly positioned with respect to the glazing holder 6; thetail 65 is oriented with a nonzero angle with respect to the axis A,which angle depends on the curvature of the glazing 2.

The tail 65 is intended to be connected to a motorized driving system(not illustrated) in order to allow the glazing unit 1 to be raised andlowered in the door of the vehicle.

The glazing holders 6, 6′ and the glazing 2 are assembled on a templateallowing tolerances in the glazing holder 6/glazing 2 assembly to becontrolled.

Before the glazing holders are positioned and fastened in place, theglazing 2 is first correctly positioned (“focused”) in a mountingtemplate 11 (shown in FIG. 3) comprising a plurality of positioningabutments, according to the isostatism in Z1, Z2, Y1, Y2, Y3 and X4illustrated in FIG. 1.

The point Y3 is, preferably, positioned on the line of a window seal 7illustrating the position of this bottom contact seal with the door whenthe glazing unit is closed.

A matrix 12, illustrated in dotted lines, and which is securely fastenedto the reference system of the glazing 2, accommodates the tail 65 ofeach glazing holder 6.

Lower 13 and upper 14 movable jaws then clamp the tail 65.

Whatever the orientation of the glazing holders 6 in the Y direction,the movable jaws 13, 14 trapp the glazing holder 6 without deterioratingthe isostatism described above.

The one (or more) glazing holder(s) 6, 6′ is(are) adhesively bondedusing an adhesive, for example polyurethane, then “wedged” onto theglazing 2, i.e. it is (they are) positioned so that the glazing ispresent in the U shape, optionally in abutment, by inserting betweensaid parallel walls 63, 64 and the glazing 2 inserts 66 made of plastic,such as for example of polypropylene.

In one variant, it is proposed to replace the phase of positioning addedinserts 66 with a phase of injection molding in-situ adhesive materialintended to form the inserts 66, made of thermoplastic hotmelt resin,for example based on polyamide.

The injection of the inserts when the glazing and the glazing holdersare correctly positioned with respect to one another thus guarantees theposition of the glazing holder, whatever the curvature of the glazing.

The hotmelt resin used has an elastic limit of about 5.5 N/mm² and ayield strength of 11 N/mm², calculated according to standard DIN 53455.It must be used at a temperature of about 220° C. and has at thistemperature a viscosity of about 5000 mPa·s, measured according tostandard ASTM D 3236.

During the implementation of this solution, it is also possible to usean additional adhesive to perfectly fasten the insert to the parallelwalls and the glazing.

The inserts 66, which are added or manufactured in situ by injectionmolding, thus serve to hold the glazing 2 in place relative to theparallel walls 63, 64 with respect to lateral forces.

The glazing holders used are, preferably, made of aluminum alloy. By wayof example, with a 6060 aluminum alloy (AGS), a vertical compressiveforce of 30 to 50 tonnes is enough, i.e. divided by the size of theglazing holders, pressures of about 150 GPa for h-shape glazing holdersof overall size of about 40×30 mm and of about 450 GPa for h-shapeglazing holders of overall size of about 60×60 mm.

The glazed element 2 has an exterior face 20 that is formed by theexterior face 30 of the exterior glass sheet 3, an interior face 22 thatis formed by the interior face 52 of the interior glass sheet 5 and aperipheral edge face 21 located between these two faces, correspondingto the peripheral edge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet 3, to theperipheral edge face 41 of the plastic sheet 4 and to the peripheraledge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5.

According to the invention, the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet5 is located beyond, in a centripetal direction, the edge face 41 ofsaid plastic sheet 4 and beyond the edge face 31 of the exterior glasssheet 3 over at least one portion of the length of the edge face 51 ofthe interior glass sheet 5, i.e. along at least one portion of thelength of the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5.

Thus, the interior glass sheet 5 has at least a height along the Z-axisand/or a length along the X-axis that is (are) larger than that (those)of the exterior glass sheet 3.

Preferably, the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 is located,in a centripetal direction, beyond the edge face 41 of the plastic sheet4 and beyond the edge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet 3, at least inthe top portion of the glazing unit.

The edge face 51 of said interior glass sheet 5 is thus located beyond,in a centripetal direction, the edge face 31 of said exterior glasssheet 3 (and beyond the edge face 41 of the plastic sheet 4) so that acentripetal offset 9, or projection, is formed.

This offset may be comprised between 2.0 and 30.0 mm, or even between3.0 and 20.0 mm, and for example here is 2.85 mm; this offset 9 ispreferably constant along its length.

In FIG. 1, the window seal 7 marks the top of the cavity of the door,into the interior of which cavity the glazing unit 1 slides when theglazing is closed. In this closed glazing-unit position, all thatportion of the glazing unit which is located under this window seal 7may have no offset: in this portion under the window seal 7, in theinterior of the cavity of the door when the glazing unit is closed, itis possible for the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 over one(or more) portion(s) of its length, or even over the entirety of itslength, to be aligned with the edge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet3.

It is for example possible for the edge face 51 of the interior glasssheet 5 to be aligned with the edge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet3 only in the places where the means for allowing the glazing 2 to bemoved translationally with respect to a door of the vehicle are located.

Above the window seal 7 the door of the vehicle may include at least oneportion with no jamb(s). Thus, it is possible for the door:

-   -   to not include a front lateral jamb and for it to be the        adjacent body portion, also called “the A pillar”, that guides        the glazing unit; and/or    -   to not include a rear lateral jamb and for it to be the adjacent        body portion, also called “the B pillar”, that guides the        glazing unit.

The edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 preferably includes aprotective layer 8 over at least one portion of the length of that edgeface 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 which is located, in a centripetaldirection, beyond the edge face 41 of the plastic sheet 4 and beyond theedge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet 3.

Also preferably, this protective layer 8 is present over the entirety ofthe length of that edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 which islocated beyond the edge face 41 of the plastic sheet 4 and beyond theedge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet 3.

The protective layer 8 furthermore preferably extends over a distanced₈, d₈ ′ against an exterior face 50 of the interior glass sheet 5and/or respectively against an interior face 52 of the interior glasssheet 5; this distance is preferably comprised between 2.0 and 10.0 mm,or even between 3.0 and 8.0 mm and is furthermore preferably constant onthe exterior face 50 of the interior glass sheet 5 and/or on theinterior face 52 of the interior glass sheet 5.

Thus, the protective layer preferably has an exterior face 80 that isoriented toward the exterior E, an interior face 82 that is orientedtoward the interior I and a peripheral edge face 81 located betweenthese two faces.

The exterior face 80 of the protective layer is preferably substantiallyparallel to the exterior face 50 of the interior glass sheet 5 in theportion that it covers, the interior face 82 of the protective layer ispreferably substantially parallel to the interior face 52 of theinterior glass sheet 5 in the portion that it covers and the edge face81 of the protective layer is preferably substantially parallel to theedge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 in the portion that itcovers.

Here, the protective layer 8 extends over a distance d₈ against anexterior face 50 of the interior glass sheet 5 that is identical to theheight of the offset D. Thus, the protective layer makes contact withthe edge face 41 of the plastic sheet and also protects this edge face.

The aim of the protective layer 8 is both to protect the edge (i.e. atleast one portion of the projection, or even all the projection, or evenmore than the projection) of the interior glass sheet 5 in order toprevent its degradation and, at the same time, to protect users becauseof the potentially sharp character of the edge of the interior glasssheet, in particular in case of a flush breach level with a ridge.

The protective layer 8 may be a varnish having a thickness of about 0.1to 3.0 mm, or even 0.2 to 2.0 mm and for example of 0.5 mm; it may alsoinstead or furthermore be a part made of plastic or of metal or metalalloy. It may be manufactured beforehand then wedged onto or adhesivelybonded to the exterior glass sheet or be manufactured in-situ when it ismade of plastic, for example using an in-situ extrusion technology orencapsulation between two mold portions closed on themselves or even ahybrid extrusion technology guided between two mold portions that arenot completely closed on themselves.

The protective layer is here a profile made of plastic having a totalthickness e₈ equal to at least twice the thickness e₅ of the interiorglass sheet 5.

The protective layer is fastened to the glazing 2 before or after theglazing holders 6, 6′ are fastened in place, but in any case before theglazing unit 1 is fastened to the door of the vehicle. This fastening ispreferably irreversible in the sense that the protective layer can thennot be removed without damaging the glazing unit.

The protective layer may also participate in the aesthetics of theglazing unit by having a suitable (identical) color with respect to thecolor of the body of the vehicle or by having a chrome-coatedappearance.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the edge face 51 of saidinterior glass sheet 5 is located beyond both the edge face 41 of theplastic sheet 4 and beyond the edge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet3, over only one portion of the length of the edge face 51 of theinterior glass sheet 5. In this instance, the projection is presentalong the lateral edges and the top edge of the glazing, but is notpresent along the bottom edge of the glazing.

Thus, as may be seen in FIG. 4, these three edge faces 31, 41, 51 arealigned with one another along the Y-axis in the bottom portion of theglazing, but are not aligned with one another along the Y-axis in thetop portion of the glazing: the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet5 is offset in the centripetal direction, i.e.:

-   -   along the Z-axis at least along the top edge of the glazing;    -   and preferably furthermore along the X-axis at least along the        lateral edge of the glazing, or even preferably along the two        lateral edges of the glazing.

For example, the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 may beoffset in the centripetal direction, along the top edge of the glazingand along the lateral edge of the glazing that is toward the rear of thevehicle, on the right in FIG. 1, also called “the B pillar”.

Each sheet 3, 4, 5 has a peripheral perimeter P₃, P₄, P₅: the perimeterof the interior glass sheet 5 lies beyond the perimeter P₄ of theplastic sheet 4 and the perimeter P₃ of the exterior glass sheet 3 overat least one portion of the length of the perimeter P₅ of the interiorglass sheet 5.

The perimeter P₅ of the interior glass sheet 5 is not aligned with theperimeter P₃ of the exterior glass sheet 3 in a top portion of theglazing unit, which is present on the exterior of the panels of the doorwhen the glazing unit is closed: the projection is thus present alongthe entirety of the periphery of the glazing that is visible from theexterior when the glazing unit is closed.

The perimeter P₅ of the interior glass sheet 5 is in lateral alignmentwith the perimeter P₃ of the exterior glass sheet 3 only in a bottomportion of the glazing unit: in the portion of the glazing unit thatremains in the interior of said door when the glazing unit is closed, inorder to participate in the reinforcement of the glazing in thislocation with a view to increasing the reliability of the attachment ofthe glazing holders to the glazing.

This perimeter P₅ of the interior glass sheet 5 that is offset in thecentripetal direction with respect to the perimeter P₃ of the exteriorglass sheet 3 and P₄ of the plastic sheet 4 makes it possible to usethis perimeter P₅ to guide the glazing unit 1 in corresponding profileslocated facing in the opening of the door when the door includes jambsor in the opening of the body that accommodates the door with respect towhich the glazing unit may slide when the door includes partial glazingjambs or includes no glazing jamb(s).

In particular, this perimeter may slide into a U-shaped profile providedin the top portion of the door or the opening when the glazing unit iscompletely closed.

In one variant, the edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 liesbeyond the edge face 31 of the exterior glass sheet 3 so that thecentripetal offset 9, or protrusion, is formed along both the entiretyof a top portion and along the entirety of an upper edge of the glazingunit and along only one portion of a single lateral edge, or even sothat a centripetal offset 9, or projection, is formed along both theentirety of a top portion and along only one portion of two lateraledges of said glazing unit.

In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the edge face of the interiorglass sheet is located beyond the edge face of the plastic sheet and theedge face of the exterior glass sheet over the entirety of the length ofthe edge face of the interior glass sheet.

Thus, these three edge faces are not aligned with one another, eitheralong the Y-axis in the bottom portion of the glazing, or along theY-axis in the top portion of the glazing, or along the Y-axis on thesides.

In this embodiment, the centripetal projection is peripheral: it ispresent along the entirety of the periphery of the glazing; the distanceD is preferably constant all the way around the glazing 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the protective layer 8 is alsocompletely peripheral: it is present along the entirety of the edge face51 of the interior glass sheet 5; it is however possible to interruptthe protective layer 8 in the zone, or even in each zone, in which themeans for allowing the glazing 2 to be moved translationally withrespect to the door of the vehicle are located.

Moreover, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the protective layer8 extends over a distance d₈ ′ against the interior face 52 of theinterior glass sheet 5 that is larger than the projection distance D ofthe edge face 51 of the interior glass sheet 5 with respect to the edgeface 41 of the plastic sheet 4 and to the edge face 31 of the exteriorglass sheet 3. This distance d₈ ′ may be comprised between 3.0 and 40.0mm, or even between 4.0 and 30.0 mm, and may for example be 15.0 mm.

The present invention was described above by way of example. It will beunderstood that a person skilled in the art will be able to producevarious variants of the invention without however departing from thescope of the patent such as defined by the claims.

1. An automotive glazing unit of a vehicle, the automotive glazing unitcomprising a glazing and a system configured to allow said glazing to bemoved translationally with respect to a door of said vehicle, saidglazing being curved and laminated and comprising at least an exteriorglass sheet, an interior glass sheet and a plastic sheet located betweensaid exterior glass sheet and said interior glass sheet, each sheethaving a peripheral edge face, wherein the edge face of said interiorglass sheet is located beyond the edge face of said plastic sheet andbeyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet over at least oneportion of a length of the edge face of said interior glass sheet andwherein the edge face of said interior glass sheet includes a protectivelayer on at least one portion of the length of that edge face of saidinterior glass sheet which is located beyond the edge face of saidplastic sheet and beyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet. 2.The glazing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior glasssheet is a glass sheet having a thickness comprised between 0.40 and2.10 mm.
 3. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aprotective layer that extends over a distance against an exterior faceof said interior glass sheet and/or against an interior face of saidinterior glass sheet, said distance being comprised between 2.0 and 30.0mm.
 4. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aprotective layer that extends over a distance against an interior faceof said interior glass sheet that is larger than a projection distanceof the edge face of said interior glass sheet with respect to the edgeface of said plastic sheet and to the edge face of said exterior glasssheet.
 5. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidprotective layer is a varnish having a thickness of about 0.1 to 3.0 mmor is a part made of plastic or of metal or of metal alloy.
 6. Theglazing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet lies beyond the edge face of said plastic sheet andbeyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet at least in the topportion of said glazing unit.
 7. The glazing unit as claimed claim 1,wherein the edge face of said interior glass sheet lies beyond the edgeface of said plastic sheet and beyond the edge face of said exteriorglass sheet over one portion only of the length of the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet.
 8. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe edge face of said interior glass sheet is aligned with the edge faceof said exterior glass sheet in a bottom portion of the glazing.
 9. Theglazing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge face of saidinterior glass sheet lies beyond the edge face of said exterior glasssheet so that a centripetal offset of size comprised between 2.0 and30.0 mm, is formed.
 10. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe edge face of said interior glass sheet lies beyond the edge face ofsaid exterior glass sheet so that a centripetal offset is formed alongboth the entirety of a top portion and along one portion only of asingle lateral edge, or indeed so that a centripetal offset is formedalong both the entirety of a top portion and along one portion only oftwo lateral edges of said glazing unit.
 11. The glazing unit as claimedin claim 1, wherein the edge face of said interior glass sheet includesa protective layer over the entirety of the length of the edge face ofsaid interior glass sheet which is located beyond the edge face of saidplastic sheet and beyond the edge face of said exterior glass sheet. 12.The glazing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior glasssheet is a glass sheet having a thickness comprised between 0.40 and1.60 mm.
 13. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein saiddistance is comprised between 3.0 and 20.0 mm.
 14. The glazing unit asclaimed in claim 3, wherein said distance remains constant on theexterior face of said interior glass sheet and/or the interior face ofsaid interior glass sheet.
 15. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 9,wherein the size of the centripetal offset is comprised between 3.0 and20.0 mm.
 16. The glazing unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein thecentripetal offset is constant along its length.